' CARDIFF CITY STARS? '

' FUTURE CARDIFF CITY STARS '

By Vital Cardiff

Monday 17th October 2016

Cardiff City are a club that has a rich recent history of developing youth players with talented individuals such as Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley, Chris Gunter, Adam Matthews, and Declan John all coming through the youth academy at the club in recent years.

Unfortunately, the past few seasons has seen a sharp decrease in young players being given first team opportunities at the club as managers have prioritised results in the here and now over building for the future.

However, with the appointment of Neil Warnock, there is hope that the players involved in the development squad will be given a chance to shine in the first team over the coming season and there are a number of youngsters within the club’s youth ranks that are being backed to have a bright future.



' SAM BOWEN '

' RHYS ABBRUZZESE '


' TOM JAMES '

' SAM BOWEN '

Cardiff City fans will recognise the surname of this talented youngster and rightly so. He is the son of former Bluebirds attacking midfielder Jason Bowen who played for the club between 1999 and 2004. He also earned two caps for Wales between 1994 and 1996.

His son, Sam, is already earning plaudits from coaches within the youth set-up and not only does it appear he has inherited the technical ability of his father but he has also been dubbed “the next Aaron Ramsey” due to his clinical and composed passing range.

Footage of Sam playing in the Cardiff youth academy matches has been released amidst a roar of excitement. This was not helped when it was revealed he scored a goal from the halfway line in one game. He is still very young and there remains a lot of development still needed but the signs are good and he is being tipped as one of the next generation that could make it at the top level.

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' RHYS ABBRUZZESE '


The Cardiff City first team already has a left back born in the Welsh valleys in the form of Declan John but there is another talented full back who hails from the same area in the shape of Aberdare-born Abbruzzese.

Abbruzzese is highly rated within the Wales youth set-up having become a regular first team player at under-16, under-17, and under-19 level. He also appeared for Wales in the Victory Shield alongside the likes of West Brom’s Tyler Roberts and Swansea City’s Liam Cullen.

Defence has been a sticking point for Cardiff over the years and John is proof that if a local player is good enough then there will be opportunities to break into the first team. It would not be surprising if John and Abbruzzese were going head-to-head for that starting left back spot over the coming seasons.

' TOM JAMES '


It is hard to believe that the hotly-tipped James was given his Cardiff City debut two years ago at the end of the 2013/14 season by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when the Bluebirds had already had their relegation back to the Championship from the Premier League confirmed. James was brought on as an 89th minute substitute in the club’s 2-1 defeat at home to Chelsea on 11th May, 2014.

Sadly, James saw his progress stumped when Solskjaer was sacked as manager and replaced by Russell Slade who showed little to no interest in bringing the young players from the development squad into the first team fold.

The versatile defender has been with the Bluebirds since he was 9 years old and is a current Wales under-19 international. His performances for the City academy side have earned rave reviews and many feel it is only a matter of time before he is once again given a chance to shine in the Cardiff first team.